2500 people with nothing to talk about?

Posted on : 03-02-2010 | By : grant | In : General

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Barney Zwartz continues to question the point of the Global Atheist Convention on his blog.

Published February 2, 2010
The Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne next month has sold out, nearly six weeks before it opens, as I report in The Age today. All 2500 tickets available for the Sunday session are gone, while the Friday and Saturday sessions are in smaller auditoriums because the organisers – with little idea of the numbers to expect - were reluctant to gamble.

The convention, spearheaded by Richard Dawkins and some fascinating international speakers, is a remarkable achievement, especially as it has been done without any government help.

But, if the atheists who post on this blog are to be believed, they have nothing in common with each other except a lack of belief in “imaginary friends”. They stand for nothing together, hold no ethical precepts in common, hold no ambitions in common (except, perhaps, a desire to see a religionless world). So what on earth (given that heaven is ruled out) will they talk about?...
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Comments (4)

NonStampCollector said on 03-02-2010
	I like how he writes : "I unequivocally think this convention is a good thing, though in future it is highly probable that I will criticise individual speakers." WHOA!! Thank heavens I'm speaking at THIS year's event and not a future one! (Who is this guy again?)

Richard Smith said on 16-02-2010
	Atheists: Why not come to Common Dreams "Living the Progressive Religious Dream" Conference at St Kilda from 15-18th April and discuss how we might develop a common cause to build a better world.

Richard Smith said on 16-02-2010
	If lifelong atheist, Phillip Adams started writing on the joys of disbelief, the merits of the meaningless universe and the sins of religion half a century ago... How is that the Universe gave rise to Phillip Adams who in his "Australian" column displays such meaning in his excellent writtings. Did evolution get something wrong here?

Adrian said on 07-03-2010

When a large group of people gather for a common theme they will most likely form smaller goups of common interests, based on what other interests they have like cricket, football, or the fact they have different back grounds

Therefore on a rational view it is more than likely it would be that people with a common cause will find something in common to talk about and make new friends in the process. The reporter of the article is blowing hot air with nothing to substance the claim